Conrad heepe



(No Model.)

O. HEEPE. SUBSTITUTE FOR WOOD OR LEATHER.

No. 488,809. Patented D60. 27, 1892.

' l/Qhbweowo v Kai/W y NITED STATES PATENT FFK CONRAD HEEPE, OF FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, ASSIGNOR TO VEREINIGTE HOLZIND'USTRIE, FABRIK FRANKENTHAL, OF FRANKENTHAL, GERMANY.

SUBSTITUTE FOR WOOD AND LEATHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,809, dated December 27, 1892.

Application filed January 15, 1892. Serial No. 418,157.

(No specimens.) Patented in Germany August 18, 1889,1110. 51,711; in

France $eptember 16, 1889, No, 200,805; in Belgium November 22, 1889,110. 88,556; in England November 22, 1889, No. 18,730, and in Austria-Hungary March 15, 1890, No. 51,669 and No.11.253.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CONRAD HEEPE, a subj ect of the Emperor of Germany, anda resident at Frankfort-on-the-ll/Iain, Germany, have in- 5 vented new and useful Improvements in Wood Veneers, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in Germany, dated August 18, 1889, No. 51,711; in France, dated September 16, 1889, No. 200,805; in Belgium, dated No- I I Vember 22, 1889, No. 88,556; in England,dated November 22, 1889, No.18,730, and in Austria- Hungary, dated March 15, 1890, No. 51,669 and No. 11,253,) of which the following is a specification.

The material consists of a combination of wood plates (veneers, strips) and an elastic and not readily torn foundation material, or core of open-meshed wire fabric. The combination is of such a kind that the new naterial possesses the outward appearance ofv upper surface with a thin layer of glue or similar cement which is'preferably treated with glycerine or any equivalent hygroscopic material which will prevent the glue from drying and becoming brittle. The foundation,

3 5 d, of open-meshed wire-fabric, whose wires are preferably from six to eight millimeters apart,

' is then laid on the veneer, a, whereupon the second layer, b, of wood-veneer, preferably also coated on its underside with a thin film 4.0 of non-drying glue is laid on. The two layers of wood-veneer with the interposed foundation of open-meshed wire-fabric are then subjected to pressure between two pressure surfaces or platens, which are coated with sheets 5 of yielding material, such as india riibber, which permits the pressure to be exerted with sufficient force between the meshes of and in the interstices of the same to cause the inner surfaces of the veneers to bend down and dip into the interstices of the fabric, (1, to such an extent that these inner surfaces touch each other and are forced together with sufficient force to adhere through the combined action of the pressure and adhesive coatings. The pressure is increased until, the shape of the core or foundation, shows on the outer surfaces of the wood, thereby indicating that the two inner faces of the wood have come into complete contact. When dried the outsides can be again rendered smooth by planing or shaving.

The foundation d d. gives the material produced good strength against breakage, and hinders shrinking and warping.

The firm union of the two sheets a b by means of an elastic glue gives them a great bending elasticity and toughness.

The invention can also be employed for uniting more than two veneers c on the drawing representing a third veneer which can be placed and pasted on the finished sheet. The same is also not limited to the production of flat sheets, but by the employment of curved pressure surfaces, bent sheets can be produced as desired. The application of these for book backs has been found to be very advantageous. An ornamental shape can be given to the core or foundation d d which then appears in relief on the surface.

A characteristic feature of the invention is the employment of a wide meshed net as a foundation in connection with the pressing of sheets connected by an elastic glue, by means. of an elastic coating of the pressure surfaces, so that contact of the surfaces takes place between the meshes of the net; By inserting the open meshed wire fabric, d, between the sheets of wood, I obtain a veneer which has all the advantages of wood veneer, while the .open wire fabric effectually obviates the tendency of the wood of splitting along the grain and at the same time allows the two layers of the wood to be united as compactly in substance as though no interposed foundation were used.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,

I declare that what I claim and wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is.

1. A compound wood veneer consisting of two sheets or veneers of wood, in combination with an interposed foundation of open-meshed wire-fabric, the inner surfaces of the veneers of Wood bending down or dipping into the interstices of the wire fabric, so as to touch each other and be cemented together, sub stantially as set forth.

2. A compound wood veneer consisting of two sheets or veneers of wood in combination withan interposed foundation of open-meshed wire-fabric, the inner surfaces of the veneers of wood bending down or dipping into the interstices of the wire-fabric, so as to touch each other and be cemented together, and a third veneer as c, cemented to the outer veneer CONRAD IIEEPE. \Vitnesses:

FRANZ HASSLAQHER, FRIEDRICH CORRELL. 

